Heel-seat-rounding machine.



J V. ALLEN.

HEEL SEAT aommme MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,190 9.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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J. V.'ALLBN.

HEEL SEAT ROUNDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1909.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN V. ALLEN, 0F WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HEEL-SEAT-ROUNDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jonx V. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Veymouth. in the county of Norfolk and State of h'lassachusetts. have invented certain Improvements in Hcel-Scat-Rounding Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specifiation, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for rounding or trimming the heel seats of boots and shoes after the soles have been attached to the uppers. and more particularly to machines in which the rounding or trimming operation is performed by a flexible knife or die cooperating with a work support or cutting block, the die being adapted to conform to the shape of the counter of the shoe in order to trim oil the heel seat on a curve similar to that of the counter.

In one of its aspects the invention consists in improvements in rounding machines of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1.027.637, granted May 28, 1912. although many features of the invention may be embodied advantageously in other types of machines.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a machine of the class described having novel mechanism for conforn'iing the die to the counter during the relative movement of the die and cutting block, thereby materially reducing the time required to operate on a boot or shoe over that required by machines in which the conforming operation is completed before the relative movement of die and cutting block begins. Another advanta 'e incident to this construction, is that, whereas, in operating machines of a prior type, the workman has been obliged to present a boot or shoe to the machine with one hand, and effect the conforming operation with the other, in av machine constructed in accordance with the present invention the workman has an opportunity to employ both hands in taking the shoes from the racks and presenting them to the machine. Besides a saving in time this mode of operation results in an improvement in the accuracy and the uniformity of product, by relieving the workman of the conforming operation.

A further feature of the invention relates to means for ga ing the width of the heel seat by determining the relative position of counter and die before the cutting operation begins. Preferably the gage may be interposed between the die and the counter of the shoe being operated upon and may comprise a continuous band having an inclined'inncr surface, the lower edge of which is adapted to enter the rand crease as the die is contracted, the thickness of the band determining the margin left by the die outside the counter. Such a gage member may also serve as a guard to prevent the die from de facing or marking the counter of the shoe during the cutting operation.

A further feature of the present invention relates to the construction and arrangement of the work support with which the flexible die cooperates. In dealing with shoes having molded soles with prominent shanks, a work support having a plane surface, such as have been heretofore employed, affords an uneven bearin for the heel seat. The result is that the die fails to make a uniform and even cut and the shoe being operated upon is distorted and strained during the trimming operation.

\Vith these conditions in view, it is an object. of the present invention to provide a work support of such construction that the shank of a molded shoe may extend below or beyond the plane of the surface thereof, allowing the portions of the heel seat adjacent to the edge to be trimmed to rest squarely on the work support. Preferably the work support may comprise a bed plate supporting and retaining a lurality of cutting blocks of square or 0t ier symmetrical cross section. Such a construction is particularly advantageous in that by turning the blocks fresh and unroughened faces may be brought uppermost and the life of the work support thus prolonged.

Other features of the invention than those above pointed out, including important combinations of parts and details of construction, will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

1, Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fi 2 is a front elevation, somewhat enlarget, parts of the base being broken away; Fig. 3 1s a sectional view on the line 83 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cutting block; Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing a shoe and sufficient of the die and gage to indicate their operative relation, the heel seat having been trimmed.

The machine comprises a base or standard 11 having a shaft or other connection with any suitable source of )ower, which is preferably applied through a clutch controlled from a treadle 12. This clutch may be of any suitable or well known type, the one illustrated being arranged to cause a single operation of the die when the operator depresses the treadle, the machine then commg to rest with the die in its highest position.

Suitably mounted for reciprocation in the standard 11 is a sliding head 13, the same being connected by any suitable means, as. for instance. a pitman, with the main shaft of the machine, a crank or other mechanism thereon imparting reciprocations to the head 13. The head 13 is provided with a lateral extension H which runs in a slot formed in the side of the standard 11, and, as shown in the drawings, this extension serves to support the die, its adjusting devices, the combined guard and gage and other operative parts of the machine.

The lateral extension of the head 13 is provided with vertical undercut ways for the adjustable carriage 15. the position of which relative to the head 13 may be adjusted by means of set screws 16. This construction affords a convenient means for adjusting and correcting the alinement of the carriage and of the cutting die mounted thereon. Such adjustment is made by slightly loosening the bindin screws 17 and then turning down either of the set screws 16, according to the adjustment required.

Depending from the carriage is a standard 18 )rovided preferably near its lower end with a perforation through which extends an adjustable pin 19 to which is attached a spring 20 connected at its other end to the die 21 and holding the latter yieldingly within the die holder 22. The die 21 is \l-shaped in outline and preferably of the form shown in Figs. .2 and 3 of the drawings. It is constructed of some suitable flexible material, such as spring tempered steel. Said die is connected as shown in the drawings to the spring 20 at a point near its upper edge, although this location is not essential. The pin 19 is provided with an adjusting nut whereby the tension of the spring 20 may be varied. The die is also provided with a air of outwardly extending studs 50 whic 1 loosely engage slots in the sides of the die holding member. This arrangement for supporting the die, together with the flexible character of the material forming the die, permits the latter to yield freely under the influence of the shaping devices, and also affords a convenient means whereby the die may be readily detached from the machine.

The die holder 22 consists of a pair of curved members which approximate in contour the rear portion or counter of a shoe. These members are arranged to inclose the die and are supported by projections or wings 23, pivotally mounted upon the standard 18 and the upper edges of the members are in sliding engagement with the under side of the horizontal portions :24 of th carriage 15 which imparts to the die holders the working pressure during the cutting stroke. Each of the die holding members is provided with an adjustable stud 6:, by which the forward and lower portions of the die may be deflected inwardly in order to allow for fullness in the shoe above the heel seat. Located upon the interior of the die holding members is an annular projecting shoulder or abutment 25 which extends over the upper edge of the die and transmits the working pressure received by the holding members to the die itself. It will be seentlmt with this construction the work ing pressure is transmitted through the relatively thin elements of the machine as a straight line thrust and that there will be no bending or torsional strain imposed upon these members.

Arranged upon the exterior of the members 29 are formed, or otherwise rigidly attached, the wedge-sha )ed projections or ribs 26, 26, which are preferably curved and increase in thickness from the top downwardly. Cooperating with the ribs 26 is a forked lever 27 which is mounted for pivotal movement upon a stud 2S projecting laterally from the rear portion of a bracket fast on to the standard 18. The forked extremities of the lever embrace the sides of the die holder and have adjustable studs 29 which are threaded into bosses on the extrcmities of the lever, and are held in posithat by set nuts. These studs are arranged to engage the wedge-shaped ribs 20 on the die holder. The lever 27 is swung about the pivot 28 for contracting the die holding members when the machine is started and the head 13 moved toward the cutting block. To this end the lever 27 is provided with two fulcrums, one of which comprises the pivot 28 already described and the other comprises the pivot 30 on a block 31 slidingly mounted on the guide rod 32 which depends from and is pivotally and adjustably connected with an arm 33 rigidly connected to a stationary part of the standard 11. Formed integral or otherwise rigidly connected with the block 31 is a sleeve i-l which is yieldingly maintained in engagement with a pair of lock nuts on the upper portion of the guide rod by a compression spring 35 interposed between the lower-side 27 will beswung on the pivot 28, contracting the die holder and causin the die 21 to conform to the counter of t e shoe to be operated upon. When the die brings up on the counter and further contraction of the die holder is prevented, the lever 27 is there- 'by prqvented, from making any further tao jallowing the die to expan holder 22.

movement about the pivot 28 and is carried bodily with the head 13, the block 31 slidingon the guide rod 32 against the tension of the spring 35. The arms of the lever 27 thus engage the pivoted members of the holder 22 and positively preventany releasing movement of the holder or die until they are moved upwardly-to the narrower portions' of the wedges. The degree of pressure with which the (lie is conformed to the counter mayrbe varied and adjusted by chan ing the tension of the spring 35 by means 0 the setnuts on the guide rod 32. After the cutting operation, the head 13 is moved upfl lever 27 at first move's bodtact with the u per set nuts, further upward movement of e pivot 30 is positively prevented and as the pivot 28 moves upwardly with respect to the pivot 30 the extremities of the lever 27 are positively moved to the narrow ends of the wedge-shaped, ribs 26 and open the die Located within the die 21 are two tecting guards 41. The guards tlconsist of two vertlcally disposedmembers flaring 0- ward the bottom and suitably supported from a plate 42 wb ich yieldingly mounted within the die holder 22 by a rod 43 and I spring 44. This form of mounting permits l 45" t e guards to move relatively to the die with the shoe during ation, as will be obvious, the guards, them:

- selves preventing the die ,from scoring-or otherwise injuring the counter ofxthe shoe during the trimming operation. i

Extending between the lower ends of the guards 41 1s a gage member 40 consisting jto ofa resilient band shaped to engage the counter of a shoe and being wedge-shaped .incross section. The inner surface of this member is faced with a yielding material cloth or the like and the the gage .is adapted to between the upper and the sole. "This arrangement results in locatthe die uniformly with respect to each shoe and that the same width of margin shalLbe left by the die outside the heelseat. I

allowing the the I oper- The work support, to be more particularly described hereinafter, is mounted ona standard 51 telescopically arranged within a tubular member 52. Preferably an internally threaded nut equipped with a hand wheel 53, or the like, is swiveled upon the tubular member 52, and engages an external thread upon the standard 51, for vertical ad'ustment of the work support. For adjusting the work support forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the die the tubular member 52 is pivotally supported on the fixed bar 54 and a downwardly extending lug is located between the shoulders 55 on the machine frame and has adjustable stops 56, as shown in Fig; 1, which can be relatively positioned to determine the location of the cutting block under the die. The cuttin block is furthermore connected to the stan ard 51 for pivotal adjustment in a horizontal plane by means of thebolt 57.

The work support comprises a bed plate 58 having upwardly extending flanges 59 at its formed by a plurality of component blocks 60 of wood or other suitable material, which blocks are arranged in alinement with the die. In the present case there are three component blocks, one on eachside and one extending across the back of the work support. Coiiperating with the flanges 59 to hold the blocks 60 rigidly together and to the bed plate 58 is the clamp 61 adapted to bear on the ends of the two side blocks and adjustably connected to the bed plate by means of a screw threaded into a boss 62 formed integral with the bed plate. This construction, in eifect, provides a recess in the front sideof the work support into which the shank or convex portion of the heel seat of a molded sole may project thus portions of the heel seat adjacent the portion to be'trimmed, to bear squarely on the blocks 60 during the trimming operation. The'blocks 60 are made uare' 1n cross section and it will be ap-' parent that by loosening the clamp 61 the component- .blocks may be turned to present back and sides and a cutting surface unused faces to the die when the operative faceshave become. roughened by repeated cutting. By this arrangement the life of a cutting block constructed in accordance with, my invention is made approximately 'four times that of an ordinary cutting block.

a By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it .will be' s een that the cutting edge of the die and-the-surfac'e of the worksupfiort are arran ed inoblique planes, and at the vertica plane of the rear portions'of the die is arranged at an obtuse angle to such-planes.

By' this arrangement the die is enabled to trim th backor counter of the shoe and on a slight 0 heel seat close to the outline of the As will be clear from the fore oing descl'ipticn the operation of the macliine is as follows:.-\ shoe A is inserted in the die 21 with the untrimmed sole extending below the cutting edge of the die and the gage 40 surrounding the counter above the sole; the

anachine is set in motion by the treadle 12 and. as the head 13 descends toward the work support, the die .21 is contracted and conformed to the counter of the shoe. The lever 27 is so adjusted by the lock nuts on the guide roo 32 that the conforming opera ion is completed before the surface of the cutting blocks is encountered by the sole of the shoe. When the shoe comes into a bearing on the. cutting blocks the guard and gage members are brought to a stop while the die continues to move downwardly till the cutting operation is completed which removes superfluous material from the heel seat. After the cutting operation is completed the head 13 moves up, the forward end of the forked lever 27 swinging upwardly meanwhile thus allowing the die to expand, and finally the machine comes to a stop with the head 13 in its highest position.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is 1. A machine of the class described, having, in combination. a flexible die, a movable holder therefor having wedges formed thereon, and means automatically movable relatively to the wedges for conforming said flexible die. said means having provision for movement with said wedges after the conforming operation.

2. A machine of the class described, hav ing, in combination, a flexible die, movably mounted wedges adjacent thereto, and means automatically movable relatively to said wedges for conforming said die, said means having provision for movement with said wedges after the con forming operation.

3. A machine of the class described, having. in combinatitm, a flexible .die, a holder embracing said die and having wedgeshaped ribs. together with automatically acting means 006 )erating with said ribs and movable relative y to said holder for conforming said die and bodily with said holder for preventing a releasing movement of said holder.

4. A machine of the class described, having. in combination. a relatively movable work support and a flexible die, a forked lever for conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, together with means for swinging said lever on its fulcrum to conform said die and moving said lever bodily when the die has been conformed.

A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a relatively movable work support and a flexible die, a forked lever for conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, said leverhaving two fulcrums, together with means for swinging said lever on one fulcrum to conform said die and moving the other fulcrum when the die has been conformed.

6. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a relatively movable work support and a flexible die, a lever for conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, and a yielding fulcrum for said lever, together with means for simultaneously conforming said die and causing relative movement of the die and the cutting block.

7. A machine of the class described, hav in", in combination, a relatively movable work support and a flexible die, a lever for conforming said die to the counter ofa boot o1 shoe, said lever having a plurality of fulcrums, together with means for swinging said lever about said fulcrnms to conform said die, and means for moving said lever without affecting said die after the conforming operation has been completed.

8. machine of the class described, having. in combination, a relatively movable wcrk support, and a flexible die, automatic conforming means movable for shaping said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, and provision for moving said conforming means without affecting said die.

9. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible die, a co operating work support, and means automatically and yieldingly operated to conform said die to the counter of a shoe and acting positively to prevent the release of said die.

'10. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible die, a cooperating work support, a lever movable for conforming said die to the counter of a shoe, means acting to cause a yielding conforming movement of said lever, and means acting to cause a positive releasing movement of said lever.

11. A machine of the class described, ha ving, in combination, a flexible die, a coopcrating cutting block, means for conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, and causing relative movement. of said (lie and cutting block, together with a gage member comprising a continuous band having an inclined inner surface and an edge adapted to enter the rand crease of a boot or shoe.

12. A machine of the class described, havin in combination, a flexible die, a cooperating cutting block, means for conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, and causing relative movement of said die and cutting block, together with means constructed and arranged to enter the rand crease of a bootv or shoe and stop the conforming movement of the die at a predetermined distance from the counter.

A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible die, a co6p-' crating cutting block, and means for simultaneously conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe and moving said die toward the cutting block, together with a member located within said'die and having a yielding inner surface.

14. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible die, a 006pcrating cutting block, and means for simultaneously conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, and mpving said die toward the cutting block, together with a continuous bandlocated within said die and having an inclined yielding inner surface for engaging a boot or shoe.

15. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a cutting block and head, means for causing relative movement thereof, a gage comprising a continuous band movable to vard and from said head and a flexible die surrounding said band and being longitudinally stationary with respect to said head.

16. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a die having a non-continuous cutting outline and a cooperating cutting block, said block comprising a plu: rality of component parts arranged'm alinement with said die and leaving the center of said block open.

17. A machine of the class described, hav- ,ing, in combination, a U-shaped cutting membem and a work -support comprising a bed plate, a plurality of cutting blocks surrounding an open space and a single'clamp constructed and arrangedto clamp -said blocks together and' to the bed plate.

for securing said blocks to said bed plate.

18. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a U-shaped cutting member, and a Work support comprising a flanged bed plate, a plurality of cutting blocks surroundingan open space, and means,

19. A machine of the class described, having,-in combination, a flexible die, a 006perating Work support and'pivoted members for conforming said die to the counter of a boot or shoe, together with adjustable means mounted on said pivoted conforming members for inwardly deflecting away from the inner walls of said members portions of the die adjacent to the shank.

20. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a drive shaft, a flexible die, .a gooperati ng work support, and means *W- automatically operated from said drive shaft for conforming said die to the counter of a shoe and acting positivelyto prevent re leas ng movement of the die until after the cutting operation has been effected.

21. A machine of the class described, havmg, in combination, a flex ble die, a cooperatmg work support, and means automatically operated to conform said die yieldingly to the counter of'a shoe, said means acting to maintain said die positively against movement away from the shoe'prlor to the cutting operation and being positively operated thereafter to release said die.

22. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible die, holders ther for, a forked lever arranged to move said holders together to conform the die to the counter of 'a shoe, and automatic means for swinging said lever yieldin'gly to effect the conforming operation, said lever acting in each position to which it is moved to prevent positively the separation of said hold- 23. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible die, holdin members therefor movable to conform sai die to the counter of a shoe, and a forked lever for moving said holding members, said lever having a yieldingly supported fulcrum.

24. A'machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible cutting die having a U-shaped opening, a forked lever for conforming said die to the counter of a shoe, said lever having pivots at two separate points and means for relatively adjusting said pivots to vary the position of the lever relatively to the die.

A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a flexible cutting die having a U-shaped opening, alever for conformin pivot pin for said lever located between the ends of thelever and movable bodily in a straight line path to cause said lever to ,ef feet the conforming operation, and a second pivot pin-for said lever located at one end of the lever and guided for yielding movement in a path parallel to that of the pivot pin first mentioned.

26. A machine of the class described having', in combination, a flexible die, a cooperating work support, and means automatically and yieldingly operating to conform the die to the counter of a shoe, said means having provision for adjustment and acting positively to prevent releasing movement of the conformed die.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN V. ALLEN. i

I Witnesses:

HERBERT W. ,KENWAY, An'rI-mn L.- RUSSELL.

copies of this patent tea-y as obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

said die to the counter of a shoe a It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,031,560, granted Augui=t 6, 1912, upon the application of J ohu V. Allen, of Weyniouth, Maissechusetts, for an improvement in Heel-Sent-Rounding Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 49, for the word V-shaped read U-s/mped; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record 'of the ease in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of October, A. D., 1912-. i

we o. c. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

